Marelli, Microchip develop ASA-ML display connectivity solution

Marelli and Microchip Technology have developed a display connectivity solution that streams graphics and video generated by a vehicle’s central computer directly to automotive displays using ASA Motion Link (ASA-ML), an open standard for automotive video connectivity. The companies said the demonstrator is intended to simplify display architectures, optimise system costs and provide greater sourcing flexibility for software-defined vehicle (SDV) architectures.

ASA Motion Link is a standard for automotive video connectivity and SerDes (serializer-deserializer) communication defined by the Automotive SerDes Alliance (ASA). The technology is designed to enable high-speed video and graphics transmission between products from multiple technology providers, providing an alternative to proprietary video transmission systems. Microchip is a founding member of the ASA.

The joint solution uses Microchip’s VS7000 ASA-ML chipset to process and transmit graphics and video from the vehicle’s central computer over a high-speed standardised link. Marelli has worked on the display-side integration, configuring and optimising the ASA-ML deserializer to decode the standardised video stream directly at the display.

How Marelli and Microchip’s ASA-ML solution works

The display-side system is designed to receive, synchronise and deliver centrally generated content such as camera feeds, navigation maps, infotainment graphics and vehicle control interfaces. The companies said this approach can reduce the electronics required at the display side as vehicle architectures move towards centralised computing.

Marelli Electronics president Kelei Shen said the shift towards software-defined vehicles is increasing demand for open and scalable electronic architectures. He said Marelli’s role as an integrator involves combining technologies from multiple suppliers, with the collaboration demonstrating the interoperability enabled by open standards.

Microchip vice president of Communications Kevin So said ASA Motion Link is intended to reduce dependence on proprietary technologies and provide a standardised connectivity approach across vehicle systems and suppliers.

ASA Motion Link supports up to 16Gbps data rates

According to the companies, the ASA-ML solution supports data rates of up to 16Gbps. Its specified features include link-layer authentication and encryption, lossless data transmission and resistance to electromagnetic noise.

The technology also incorporates Time Division Duplex (TDD) functionality and simplified Forward Error Correction (FEC), which the companies say can contribute to lower power consumption. The architecture is also positioned as a path towards increasingly Ethernet-centric vehicle electronics.

The companies said the collaboration demonstrates how open-standard connectivity can support communication between centralised computing systems and displays while simplifying vehicle electronics development and providing flexibility in sourcing components from different technology providers.